Latch mechanism



Feb- 12, 1 45- E. F. WAGNER LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f INVENTOR BY a W I AQTUP NEYS Feb. 12, 1946. NER

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "'IIIIIIIIIIIIL 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ ,W imwdwu ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 12, 1946 LATCH MECHANISM Edward F. Wagner, Lakevllle, Ind., aasignor to The Studebaker Corporation, South Bend,

Ind, a corporation of Delaware Application February 18, 1944, Serial No. 522,857 15 Claims. (Cl. zaa-zm The present invention relates to an improvement in a latch mechanism. In the last few years, in the automotive art,

door latch mechanisms of a character providing for engagement of a plurality of cams with a rotatable bolt urging the latter into engagement with a stationary keeper have come into prominent use. These devices incorporate a safety catch of the rotatable bolt with the keeper; In such door latch mechanisms suitable springs are associated with the cams for biasing them into engagement with the bolt. These cams are of a character providing for progressive engagement with the bolt so that vibration of the car serves to more positively engage the bolt with the keeper when the latch mechanism is in a locked position.

Suitable levers or the like are associated with the door handles for relieving the force of the springs from the cams to release the latter in order to unlatch the bolt from the keeper. In such arrangement the door handles are of a character with which an effective leverage is obtainable to compress the springs to withdraw them from the cams.

It is contemplated in the future design of automobile bodies that external projections such as door handles will be objectionable from the standpoint of appearance since such projections interfere with streamlining of the car body. It has been proposed to provide push buttons in the outer surface of the car body and preferably flush therewith for opening the latch mechanism to open the car door. Push button actuators may also be desirable for use internally of the vehicle to eliminate projections therein which might become entangled with the clothing of the people within the vehicle. However, in push button type of actuating mechanisms, the leverage obtainable in prior conventional car door handles is not conveniently obtainable, and since the spring means for biasing the aforementioned cams into engagement with the bolt must be substantial to fefiectively retain the latch mechanism in locked position, a push button actuating means cannot be satisfactorily incorporated with the present known forms of latch mechanisms of the character referred to.

It is an object of my invention therefore to pro- ,vide a novel arrangement of a rotatable door bolt adapted to engage a stationary keeper member in which means is provided for associating a spring loaded cam means engageable with the bolt for urging the same into engagement with the keeper, which latch mechanism may be actuated under the order of forces obtainable in manually operable push button actuators.

In order to obtain the aforesaid object, I propose to provide a latch mechanism comprising a rotatable supported bolt and a stationary keeper which the bolt is adapted to engage for securing two relatively movable parts to each other in which one of the parts may. for exampie, be a car door and the other part a door post. A spring loaded cam means is associated with the latch mechanism to normally engage the bolt to bias the latter into engagement with the keeper to effect latching of the latch mechanism. The cam means is associated with the rotatable bolt so that it may be moved in a direction away from the bolt to release the bolt from the keeper. The movement of the cam means is effected without compression of the spring means for urging it into engagement with the bolt. In the preferred form of my invention the cam means is rotatably supported in a cam carrier member which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis fixed with respect to the axis of the bolt. A release lever is associated with the cam carrier member so that it normally prevents pivotal movement of the latter in a direction for withdrawing the cam means away from the bolt. A trip lever is associated with the assembly to engage the release lever permitting pivotal movement of the cam carrier member and withdrawal of the cam means from the bolt to cause unlatching of the latch mechanism. The arrangement is suitable for push button actuation of the latch mechanism in that only a small force is required to trip the trip lever.

The structure referred to above provides for assembly of the parts with respect to a door in a manner in which the trip lever may be assembled within the door structure and with the bolt, cam means, cam carrier member and release lever all confined in a casing disposed externally of the lock facing of the door. Also the arrangement of the mechanism of my invention is such that push button actuators may be carried interiorly and exteriorly on the door. With this arrangement of parts a minimum number of them are disposed internally of the door resulting in the advantage that ample clearance for a glass panel is obtained.

Other objects and features of my invention will appear from the detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and utilizing a latch mechanism in accordance with my invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention. V

In the drawings Figure l is a detail horizontal sectional view;

through a portion of an automobile door and a door post, and showing, in plan, a latch mechanism constructed inaccordance-with my invention; v

Figure 2 .is a perspective view looking into the interior facing of a-latch facing plate carried by the door and showing a tripping means for the latch mechanism of my invention;

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the'trip mech anism of my invention disposed on the interior face of the latch facing plate; I

Figure 5 is an end elevational view looking toward the left of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational face view of the exterior surface of the latch facing plate and latch mechanism disposed thereon, which latch plate is adapted to be secured to the door lock facing of the door, and showing in dotted lines a form of keeper adapted to be associated with the door po Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line3-9 of Figure'l.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown a portion of a hingedly mounted car door I II and a .portion of a car door post II. The car door III and door post I I are of conventional construction, and, as shown, a portion of the latch mechanism is carried by a latch facing plate I2 which is adapted to be suitably secured to the door latch racing of the door III. A keeper I4 of conventionalconstruction is carried by the latch facing of the.,door post H. The keeper I4 forms the stationary part of the latch mechanism of the present invention, and in the embodiment herein disclosed is the only part of the mechanism carried by the door post. Linkage mechanism I5 is carried by the latch facing plate I2 adjacent the interior face thereof which mechanism is disposed internally of the door as shown. The mechanism I5 comprises a trip lever and associated levers for actuating the trip lever and a manually operable lock which prevents tripping of the latch mechanism. The remainder of the latching mechanism is carried within a casing I6 secured to the outer surface of the latch facing plate I2 which casing in the closed position of the door is disposed between the outer surface of the latch facing plate I2 and the outer surface It of the door post I I upon which the keeper I4 is supported.

The latch casing I6 as previously mentioned is suitably secured to the outer surface of latch facing plate I2 by a plurality of nut and bolt means shown at 20. A rotor or rotatable bolt 2I is rotatably mounted about a horizontal extending pin 22 the opposite ends of which are suitably secured to the casing I6 and the latch facing plate I2. The rotatable bolt comprises a plurality of prongs which are adapted to project through an opening 23 in the upper end of the casing I6. The pin 22 provides a fixed axis of rotation for the bolt 2|. A cam plate carrier member 24 is pivotally mounted at its upper and upon a bolt I1 one end of which is suitably secured to the latch facing plate I2 with its other free of but supported by the casing I6. As shown in Figure 8 the cam carrier member 24 is substantially U shape in cross-section. A roller 25 is carried on a pin extending between the leg portions 26 of the cam plate carrier member. A release lever 21 is pivotally mounted at one end upon a pin 28 which pin has its opposite ends secured in the casing I6 and the latch facing plate !2. The release lever 21 is suitably formed so that its free end engages the periphery of the roller 25 and normally occupies the'position shown in Figure 7, in which position the cam plate carrier 24 is restrained against pivotal movement about its pivot defined by bolt I1 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. Acoil spring 30 is disposed about the bolt I1 provided for pivotal mounting of the carrier plate 24 with one end of the spring suitably secured to the bolt I1 and with the opposite end of the spring engaging a bridge portion 3| of the cam plate carrier member 24. The spring 30 is arranged so that it tends to rotate the cam plate carrier mem-- her in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. A plurality of cam members 33, 34 and 35 of progressively increasing length are pivotally mounted upon a pin 36 extending between the leg portions 26 of the cam plate carrier member 24 above the pin providing for rotatable mounting for the roller 25. A plurality of coil springs 31, 33 and 39 are provided, one for each of the cam members 33, 34 and 35, respectively, which springs are supported between the legs 26 of the cam carrier member by a pair of lugs 40 punched in each leg 26 to extend inwardly thereof, with the free ends of the lugs of each leg 26 abutting each other. The springs 31, 38 and 39 normally urge the cam members 33, 34 and 35 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 7) into engagement with the prongs of the rotor or bolt 2I and in turn urge the latter in a counter-clockwise direction into engagement with the cam surface 42 of the keeper I4 as shown in Figure 6. The release lever 21 is provided with a pin 43 intermediate the pivotal mounting of lever 21 upon the pin 28, and the 'free end .of this lever. The pin 43 extends through a slot 44 formed in the latch facing plate I2, and into an opening 45 formed in the lower end of a pivotally mounted trip lever 46. A leaf spring 41 is disposed in the lower end of the casing I6 and is secured at one end thereto with the free end of the spring 41 engaging release lever 21 normally urging it into the position shown in Figure 7.

Reference may now be had to Figures 1 and 2 for a description of one suitable form of trip mechanism for tripping the latch mechanism above described. It will be seen that the trip lever 46 is mounted for pivotal movement upon a pin 49 carried by the latch facing plate I2. A push button 50 of known construction is mounted in the exterior panel of the door I II and is positioned so that upon inward movement of the plunger thereof it engages a lug 5I at the end of the trip lever 46 opposite its pivotal mounting. Actuation of the push button 50 will cause the trip lever 46 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 forcing the pin 43 of the release lever 21 downwardly. A second push button means 53, also of known construction, is mounted in the interior wall of the door III. A horizontally extending rod is disposed interiorly of the door and is mounted for rotation in a journal member 56 carried by the latch facing plate I2. A coil spring 51 is disposed about rod 55 and is arranged to normally urge the other end 58 of rod 55 into engagement with the push button connected to the rod ll at the end thereof adlacent the latch facing plate I! and at its other end has pivotal connection with one end of a link it. The lock means comprises .a substantially vertically slidable rod 84 having connection at one end thereof with a lock bar 65. The lock bar Cl is provided with a vertically extending slot in which the shank of a bolt 66 secured to the latch facing plate I! extends. Upon grasping the knob '1 at the other or free end of the rod 04 the oifset' end 68 of the lock bar may be positioned to engage an out turned flange 69 at the end of link 63 adjacent its pivotal connection with the lever 62. When the lock bar is in the position last described the lever 62 and link 53 are prevented from pivoting with respect to each other at their pivotal connection thereof so that actuation of either push button means SI and 53 cannot cause pivotal movement of the trip lever 40 about its pivot.

From the above description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be observed that the door III in passing from open position to closed position, a prong of the rotor or rotatable bolt it will first engage a spring loaded safety catch I0 formed as part of the keeper. This safety catch is well known and need not be further described for an understanding of my invention. After the prong of the bolt II has passed the safety catch I0 it will engage the several cam members 33, 34 and 35 and rotate them about the pin 38 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. As previously noted the several cam members are of different lengths and the springs therefor tend to bias them in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7, so that they progressively engage the bolt 2| to rotate it in a counter-clockwise direction to bias a prong of the latter into engagement with the cam surface 42 of the keeper i4. The latch facing plate I: is provided with an abutment member 12 extending outwardly of the outer surface thereof and positioned relative to bolt 2| so that the keeper I4 is adapted to be received therebetween. The use of progressively increasing lengths of cam members is a known expedient, and provides for automatic or continuous takeup of the bolt relative to the keeper. In order to open the door either push button means ill or 53 may be actuated which in turn causes pivotal movement of the trip lever 46 which by virtue of its engagement with the pin 43 of the release lever 21 permits the bolt to be freed of the cam members It, 34 and 35 in the manner previously described. It will be understood that the door Ill may be hingedly mounted so that it tends to swing outwardly of the vehicle body when the latch mecha-- nism is released. Upon tripping of the trip lever 21 in such a hinge arrangement the weight of the door will release the bolt from the cam members.

It will also be understood in lieu of the hinge tripping of the trip lever, the spring 30 will return the cam carrier member 24 to the position shown in Figure 7. Upon release of the push button means II and II the retrieving spring 41 will return the release lever 21 to the position shown in Figure 7 in which pomtion the latch mechanism will retain the door in locked position upon return of the door to its closed position, as shown in Figure 1. A

While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably carried about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of ,said parts, a cam carrier member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, a cam member rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, spring means normally urging said cam member in a direction to engage said bolt to urge the latter into engagement with said keeper, and means for mounting said cam carrier member whereby the axis of rotation of said cam member may be moved in a direction away from the axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt.

2. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably carried about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, a plurality of cammembers rotatably supported by said cam member, spring means normally urging said cam members in a direction to engage said bolt to urge the latter into engagement with said keeper, said cam members being adapted to be released from said bolt by movement of said cam carrier member about its axis of rotation in a direction away from the axis of said bolt.

3. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts. a cam carrier member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, a release .lever pivotally mounted at one end about a fixed axis, the opposite end of said release lever normally being disposed in a position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam carrier'member in a direction away from said bolt, a cam member pivotally supported in said cam member, a spring means between said cam carrier member and said cam member for normally urging the latter in a direction to engage said bolt and biasing said cam member into engagement with said keeper.

4. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted at one of its ends for pivotal movement about a fixed axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said bolt member, a release lever pivotally mounted at one end about a fixed parallel to the axes of said cam carrier member and said bolt, the opposite end of said release lever normally being disposed ina position to prevent pivotal movement oi said cam carrier member in a direction away from said bolt, a cam member rotatably supportedin said cam carrier member, spring means between said cam carrier member and said cam member for normally urging' the latter in a direction to engage said bolt and biasing the same into engagement with said keeper, and a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same from engagement with said cam carrier member whereby the latter is free to move in a. direction away from said axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt.

5. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted at one of its ends for pivotal movement about a fixed axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said bolt member, a release lever pivotally mounted at one end about a fixed axis parallel to the axes of said cam carrier member and said bolt, the opposite end of said release lever normally being disposed in a position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam carrier member in a direction away from said bolt, avplurality of cam members rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, spring means disposed between said cam carrier memher and said cam members normally urging the latter in a direction to engage said bolt for biasing the same into engagement with said keeper, and a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same from engagement with said cam carrier member whereby the latter is free to move in a direction away from said axis of said bolt for releasing said cam members from said bolt.

6. A latchmechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed axis by one or said parts for releasable engagement member, 'a release lever pivotally mounted at one end about a fixed axis parallel to the axes of said cam carrier member and said bolt, the opposite end of said release lever normally being disposed in a position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam carrier in a, direction away from said bolt, a cam member rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, a spring means between said cam carrier member and said cam member for normally urging the latter in a direction to engage said bolt and biasing the same into engagement with said keeper, a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same from engagement with said cam carrier member whereby the latter is free to move in a direction away from said axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt, and spring means for normally urging said release lever into engagement with said cam carrier member. a 7. A latch mechanism for association betwee two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a one end about a fixed axis parallel to the axes of said cam carrier member and said bolt, the opposite end of said release lever normallybeing disposed in a position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam carrier member in a direction away from said bolt, a cam member rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, spring means between said cam carrier member and saidcam member for normally urging the latter in a direction to engage said bolt and biasing the same into engagement with said keeper, a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same from engagement with said cam carrier member whereby the latter is free to move in a direction away from said axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt, and-push button means for engaging said trip lever.

8. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably supported about a fixed, axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a fixed axis parallel to the axis oi rotation of said bolt member, a release leverpivotally mounted at one end about a fixed axis parallel to the axes of said cam carrier member and said bolt, the opposite end oi. said release lever normally being disposed in a position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam carrier member in a direction away from said bolt, a cam member rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, spring means between said cam carrier member and said cam member for normally urging the latter in a direction to engage said bolt and biasing the same into engagement with said keeper, a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same irom engagement with said cam carrier member whereby the latter is free to move in a direction away from said axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt, and means associated with said trip lever for preventing tripping of the latter.

9. A latch mechanism for association between I a door and a doorpost comprising, a bolt mechanism comprising a bolt member rotatably carried about a fixed axis by said door for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by said door post, a cam carrier member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, a cam member rotatably. supported in said cam carrier member, spring means normally urging said cam member in a direction to engage said bolt to urge the latter into engagement with saidkeeper, a release lever pivotally mounted at one end thereof about a fixed axis parallel to the axes oi. said cam carrier member and said bolt, a trip lever for engaging said release lever to disengage the same from engagement with said cam plate carrier to release said cam member 'for movement in a direction away from the axis 01' said bolt, and a pair of ush buttons one being mounted on the inside of said door and the other being mounted on the outside of said door for tripping said trip lever. I v

10. The combination of claim 9 characterized by the provision of lock means for preventing tripping of said trip lever.

11. The combination of claim 9 characterized by the arrangement of said bolt, said cam carrier member, said cam member, and said release lever, being arranged in a casing secured to the door latch facing of said door, and with the trip lever being pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite surtace of said door latch facing.

12. A latch mechanism for association between two relatively movable parts comprising a bolt member rotatably carried about a fixed axis by one of said parts for releasable engagement with a stationary keeper supported by the other of said parts, a cam carrier member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, a cam member rotatably supported in said cam carrier member, spring means normally urging said cam member in a direction to engage said bolt to urge the latter into engagement with said keeper, means for mounting said cam carrier member whereby the axis of rotation of said cam member may be moved in a direction away from the axis of said bolt for releasing said cam member from said bolt; and spring means associated with said cam carrier member for returning the same to its normal position,

13. In a latch, a rotatable bolt member adapted for releasable engagement with a relatively stationary keeper, a cam carrier pivoted ior swinging movement, a cam pivoted on said cam carrier, and spring means normally urging said cam in a direction to engage said bolt to urge said bolt into engagement with said keeper, said cam being released from said bolt by swinging movement of said pivoted cam carrier.

14. In a latch, a rotatable bolt member adapted for releasable engagement with a relatively sta tionary keeper, a cam carrier mounted for movement to diilerent positions, a cam pivoted on said cam carrier, and spring means normally urging said cam in a direction to engage said bolt to urge said bolt into engagement with said keeper, said cam being released from said bolt b movement of said cam carrier.

15. In a latch, a rotatable bolt member adapted for releasable engagement with a relatively stationary keeper, a cam carrier pivoted i'or swinging movement, a plurality of cams pivoted on said cam carrier, and spring means normally urging said cams in a direction progressively to engage said bolt to urge said bolt into engagement with said keeper.

EDWARD F. WAGNER. 

